Minnesota STD cases rise 10 percent

The rate of sexually transmitted diseases in Minnesota increased by 10 percent last year, the Minnesota Department of Health reported on Wednesday.

The 23,133 newly reported sexually transmitted disease cases in Minnesota last year amounted to an increase over 21,465 new cases in 2012 and 19,547 cases in 2011, according to the health department.

"Untreated STDs can have serious health consequences," said Dr. Edward Ehlinger, the state health commissioner, in a statement. "Testing, diagnosing and treating these diseases in their early stages will prevent long-term health problems and slow their speed."

Chlamydia is the most common infectious disease in the state, and it reached a new high of 18,724 new cases in 2013 -- an increase of 4 percent compared with 18,048 cases in 2012, according to the health department.

Gonorrhea remained the second most commonly reported STD, with 3,872 cases last year. The tally of gonorrhea cases in 2012 was 3,082, for a growth rate of 26 percent, the health department said.

The number of syphilis cases increased by 64 percent, growing from 118 cases in 2012 to 193 cases last year.